For the third consecutive year, the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has endorsed the Africa Creative Market, aiming to strengthen collaboration between the United States and Nigeria in the creative sector. Founded by Dr. Inya Lawal, a participant in the Fortune-U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership program, the Africa Creative Market connects stakeholders from African and international creative industries to share ideas and drive growth in Africa’s creative economy.
This year’s event featured U.S. creative leaders Steffan Horowitz from the University of Southern California and Dedren Snead, CEO of SUBSUME Studios, supported by the U.S. Consulate. During the conference, U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Julie McKay, Horowitz, and Nigerian alumni of the Africa Creative TV exchange program discussed ways to connect African creatives with global audiences, providing valuable insights for emerging filmmakers and content creators.
Snead conducted a workshop on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the impact of digital platforms on amplifying African stories. He highlighted the potential of animation and gaming to create engaging cultural experiences that elevate African narratives worldwide.
Additionally, the Africa Creative Market featured the AWE 2.0 Initiative, which brought together 150 alumnae of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs for a three-day program focused on enhancing digital skills for business growth. Snead engaged with the alumnae, underscoring the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting women-led businesses in the evolving digital landscape.
U.S. Consul General Will Stevens commended the burgeoning collaboration between the U.S. and Nigeria’s creative sectors, emphasizing the significant potential of creative industries to drive growth and create economic opportunities.